Zipping up the duffel bag, she made sure that his phone and charger were in her purse before she stood up. Since it was her second time there, she had grabbed a few more stuff that he would need, that included his backpack, that had been discarded in the entrance, along with the blankets from his bed, and the single cologne he had.

After some deliberation, she grabbed the single family portrait that she saw in his room and for a few seconds, she couldn't help but stare at it.

Ijin was smiling in the photo, a proper smile that portrayed his emotions as he stood next to his kind looking grandfather, and his pretty younger sister.

Her eyes lingered on the photo, taking in the family that had been torn apart by a single reckless driver. At the young man that had a healthy color to his face mere weeks prior.

The difference between then and now, was heartbreaking.

Swallowing thickly, she exited the apartment, successfully walking down to her car despite the duffel bag, backpack and child that she was carrying with her.

Just as she finished securing her child in her car seat, she got a call from Major Kang. With her stomach twisting, she answered the phone. For a few minutes, they exchanged common courtesies as she started to drive back to her apartment. Where she had left Ijin sitting on the couch, organizing the basket of random wires and other knickknacks so he could have something to do.

As expected, after a few minutes, the Major got straight to the point.

"How is he doing?"

She sighed heavily," He's still not sleeping," Even though she had discovered that massaging the boys scalp helped him fall asleep, it didn't help him stay asleep," And he lost more weight again."

"Fuck," The Major cursed foully," Is he eating?"

That had to be one of the few things she didn't have much problems with," Sometimes he forgets," especially when he falls into those trances where he just stares off into the distance," but he eats everything I put in front of him."

"Fuckkkk," The man dragged out, a tone of almost hopelessness in his voice. A tone that she was starting to relate to more and more.

"I know," She comforted," He doesn't tell me anything. He doesn't tell anyone anything." She had tried, multiple times. Even though he had become more talkative after his boss had visited him, every time she asked how he was doing. Ijin would either say that he was okay, or that he was fine, even though he clearly wasn't.

There was a thud on the other side of the line," Dammit, he doesn't tell me anything either." This time, it was her turn to groan.

Each time the Major called, she would put Ijin on the phone before leaving the room to give him some privacy. Hoping that the Majors voice would help coax Ijin out of the silent state he had put himself into.

Clearly, she was wrong.

"Dammit," that was the worst she was going to say with her daughter in the car," I'm on my way back from his apartment. I found his phone and got him some more clothes. Maybe he'll talk with his friends?"

"I hope so. He doesn't talk about them at all?"

That was a hard no. a very hard no.

"No. He's bottling everything up. He hasn't cried since you visited." She hasn't even seen him tear up, and unless he was letting out his emotions in the middle of the night, when he was completely by himself (That sounded even more depressing) he wasn't processing anything in a healthy way.

"Fuck. Okay," she could hear the sound of paper on his side," I'm coming back in a few days. I'll talk to him and see if he's willing to see a therapist."

God she hoped he said yes. Even if he said he was only willing to go for one day, it still opened the door for him getting some type of help.

"Okay. I think he'll listen if it comes from you." She had arrived back to her apartment, and was already on her way inside.

"God I hope so."

She rose a brow when she saw five teenagers standing at the entrance to her apartment building, with only a single girl among the four boys. The group looked like they were mismatched. With a red head, a bleach blond boy, a boy with a buzz cut, a taller boy with black hair, with the only girl having black hair as well. All of them looked flustered and/or nervous.

The false blond sighed," Hang on. I got this." And without a single ounce of shame, he ran his hand down the buzzers, pressing all of them.

"What are you doing!? The red hair boy scolded.

Before anyone else could question what he was doing, the door popped open.

Honestly, she was surprised that it worked.

"There's always someone waiting for someone. Lets go."

"For fucks sake, is that how you always get to my apartment?" The boy didn't even blink.

"Yeah, its 243 right?"

Ah…

She has never met them before.

But she knew who they were.

The tallest boy looked down at his phone, a frown on his face as she approached them from the side," Yeah, that's the address he gave me."

The buzz cut boy noticed her, and gave her a quick smile before he turned to the others with an anxious look," Are you sure it's okay to visit them without notice?"

The tallest boy spoke again," she said it's fine. Besides, that moron doesn't have his phone anyway." He ended with a bitter tone in his voice. A tone that she couldn't help but relate with.

At the same time, the feeling of relief spread through her body at the realization that maybe, just maybe, Ijin would open up to them. That there was the potential of Ijin finally expressing himself in a healthy way.

"I'll have to call you back sir. I think his friends are here."

"Okay," even the major sounded relieved," Tell me how it goes?"

"I will," she hung up the phone and properly approached the group. "Seokju?" like she thought, the tallest of the group turned to look at her. There was confusion in his eyes for only a split second before he connected the dots.

"Ms. Jaup?"

She nodded, politely smiling as the teenagers gave her polite bows in greeting," are you guys also Ijin's friends?"

They nodded enthusiastically at the question. All of them looking hopeful and excited at the prospect of seeing their friend after almost two weeks of no contact.

"How …" The red head trailed off as he looked to the others for support before he started again," How is he doing?"

She pursed her lips at the question, and that seemed to be enough for most of the teenagers," Not good. But I'm sure he'll be happy to see you guys."

They had been generous enough to help her with the stroller and the bags. But the journey to the second floor had been exceedingly awkward as the teenagers simmered in their own anxiety and restlessness. She was sure that they were equally eager and anxious to meet their mourning friend.

It was tense as she opened the door, but the moment was broken when she called out," I'm back. And I got your friends with me."

"Yeah get your ass out here asshole!" Jaehyung said loudly, barely hiding the anxious tone in his voice.

It was silent.

She frowned, "Ijin?"

It was very out of character for Ijin to not answer her, most of the time, he would already be approaching the door before she even opened it completely.

So why wasn't he answering?

Seokju notices her worry," Maybe he's asleep?"

She dismissed the thought almost immediately, "No. He barely sleeps anymore. Ijin?" She walked into the living room, where she had left him on the sofa sorting through the aforementioned box of cords.

The living room was empty.

"Where are you?"

The teenagers trailed after her, now all of them were picking up on her anxiety.

"Ijin?"

She wasn't getting an answer.

Something was wrong.

Something was horribly wrong.

"Help me find him," she couldn't keep the anxiety put of her voice even if she tried," Ijin?!" Ye-Jun started to tear up, sensing her mother's distress.

The teenagers started to look around, and one by one, the rock in her stomach got bigger as they searched each room. Only for them to say that it was empty.

He was gone.

Ijin was gone.

Immediately, her brain went to the one possibility where he could be and why he left.

Would he?

Would he actually do something like that?

He didn't seem like the type to do that…

But at the same time…

He just lost what little family he had left. He didn't let anyone in so he was the only one who knew what was going through his head…

"Go check the roof!" She ran towards the balcony, the rush of the hot air entering the house caused papers to go all over the place as she looked up and down. No one noticed a piece of paper sliding under the bookshelf in their panic.

She heard her front door open as she scanned the streets below, feeling ever so slightly relieved that there weren't any bodies on the pavement. Even more so when she looked up and saw no one standing on the ledge.

There was a storm rolling in, and she knew that it was going to be a problem if they weren't able to find Ijin in the building.

Ijin was gone.

And she had no idea where he could be.

The previous hollow spot in his chest had been replaced by a overwhelming, almost blinding, sense of pure and utter rage.

If it wasn't for his extensive training, he would have lashed out already.

006 gave him an odd look, taking a few seconds to turn away from the group at the opening of the apartment building," Are you sure it's okay to leave without saying anything?"

He nodded, his eyes lingering on his friends, Eun, and Ye-Jun as they stood at the entrance.

He didn't know they were going to visit him…

For a split second, all he felt was shame as he made them waste more time and energy on him

"The camp ordered for 002 to kill them, but 002 messed up and ended up dying with your sister and grandfather."

The shame was replaced with the hot burning anger at the fact that Dayeon and grandfather was killed because of him.

"I left a note," although he had left it on top of the pile of papers on the table, he was sure that they were going to see it," it'll be fine."

It was 032's turn to give him an odd look," Are you sure about this man?" He also had a tone of anxiety in his voice.

Absolutely.

"They killed my family." The anger had yet to subside," I'm sure."

There was a sigh of defeat," If you say so."

Ijin watched as his friends went into the building. Sometimes it still felt odd, to call them his friends.

They're going to be mad…

Major Kang was going to kill him for leaving and saying goodbye through a note.

But this was something he had to do.

He turned away from them, internally promising to return and live out the peaceful life Dayeon and Grandfather wanted for him.

"Let's go."

Even the cold, bone chilling rain wasn't enough to make the hot anger subside. The burning rage in his chest easily overpowering his hate of the cold.

The Camp has taken enough from him. It was his turn to take something from them.

He was going to take everything from them